Random reminder

Press, 26 December 1986, Page 6

Random reminder

The men in white Everyone knows that a new pair of walking shoes needs “wearing in” — a good steady tramp before the big week-end trek out into the back blocks — so one fine Saturday afternoon the Bridle Path beckoned, and she set off feeling bouncy and fit.

It didn’t seem the same without her usual company. Something was definitely missing, and she decided it was the friendly conversation which made the miles and the time pass so quickly. So she tried singing (quietly, under her breath, in case anyone was approaching) but couldn’t remember any of the tunes they sang on their tramps. The only thing she could think of was the 23rd Psalm, and as that seemed to suit her unrhythmic trudge over the rocks, she stayed with it.

“My table Thou Hast furnished” — must soon arrive at the top, can’t be much longer, not as fit as I thought — "in PREsence of my FOES.” A quick glance upwards. A double take. St Peter? Guardian angels? This IS the Bridle Path —. a glance downwards? Yes, there’s Heathcote

and the Estuary, so it is definitely not the Pearly Gates, or is it? Two hundred or so yards ahead was a table, with three bearded gentlemen dressed in immaculate white, sitting immobile watching her struggle. Waiting for her to reach them. .

She started to chuckle, didn’t believe it, had another look and saw the three bottles of wine and the remains of a picnic in front of them, saw their big grins of welcome and laughed at her acceptance of their offer of a glass of wine.

The three seamen had climbed the Port Hills from the Lyttelton side and they sat and had a friendly discussion on Canterbury history before she left them and positively skipped the final few yards to the top. They were packing up the remains of their cheese and salami as she passed them on her way back down again, and there was a lot of laughter and teasing. You didn’t tell me the name of your ship?

The Waikato. Take care. Have a nice day. See you again. No one would believe her.